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With so much scattered information on WW and a search option that doesn't work well, I've decided to start a CAAD Build Thread where we can consolidate the best information, tips, suggestions and issues regarding CAADs.

I'm going to link just about every CAAD Build here and I welcome and encourage anyone who's got a CAAD to post it and to list their build. Let us know what worked for you, what didn't work and what you'd do different knowing what you know now.

I'm almost finished with my CAAD9 Build. I've chosen not to post any more pics of it until the final piece comes in. I'll post the upgrades as I have them done, but that's about it. The final piece should get to me in two weeks (possibly as early as next Friday).

Of course, all CAADs are welcomed (10, 9, 8, 7, etc...) and please, be generous with the pics!

CAAD design and manufacturingThe first road frame from Cannondale was produced in 1983. It sold for $350 and included the frame and fork. The fork was steel with helical reinforcement ribs inside the steel steering tube. The frame was instantly recognized for the oversized down tube and enlarged head tube. The seatstays and chainstays were ovalized to reduce flex. Unlike steel frames, there were no lugs: the aluminum tubes were mitered, hand welded, and then heat treated.

The first frames were available in two colors: red and white, and painted with DuPont Imron paint. Cannondale achieved the distinction and goal of becoming the first high volume producer of aluminum frames, at a time when only steel frames were mass produced and aluminum was hand made in low volumes.

Hey, I'm a member of this fan club too. Keep coming back to Caads. Strayed away every now and then. Currently I have a sub 15lb Cad 3 in speed yellow that looks like it's new. Eyeing a Caad10 1 currently. I will try to post a photo of the Caad3 soon.

I've started riding CAAD about 5 years now. I bought my first secondhand and it hasn't dissapointed.It's probably one of the oldest on these boards except for The Caad 3.0 by Cdale53Mine isn't really a road bike either, it is more like a prehistoric CAAD X IMG_0709 by Quattrings, on Flickr

Having ridden several frames from other a brands, I think Cannondale makes fast bikes for relatively low cost. They might be popular on these boards but I occasionaly cross paths with cyclists who never heard of it

I'm so anxious to post, but feel that I need to complete the build more. But, I'm reading everything! I should have nice pics up by next weekend. For anyone who's interested, I took her down from 7470g to 7390g today.She should be down to 7110g by next weekend. See my signature link for the latest goodies I got in the mail today.

I suppose those are vinyl wraps on the DA shifters? I've been playing with the idea of doing something similar. Was it easy and did you remove the lever?Gonna try it first on my 105's and source some 7800 DA's in the mean time.

@ Racermech, Nice collection there!Been on the lookout for a Caad 4 aero frame too for a special project. unfortunatly nothing has popped up for a while and the ones that do are 650's and small sizes

I suppose those are vinyl wraps on the DA shifters? I've been playing with the idea of doing something similar. Was it easy and did you remove the lever?Gonna try it first on my 105's and source some 7800 DA's in the mean time.

Best place I've found for it (yes, carbon fiber vinyl wrapping tape). It was super easy to do and I did it without taking off the levers.Next time though, I'd take them off.

What helped a lot was having a hot air gun and an Exacto Knife with a fresh blade.I used alcohol to clean and decontaminate the shifters then used the hot air gun very lightly to dry them and to warm the shifters up a bit. It takes patience and there are areas I could've done a better job of trimming, but there was a learning curve.

But damn they look good. Much better than the shifters alone.

I'm going to do the front derailleur next and then I'll add some to the rear derailleur to tone down the silver some, but I'm not going to for complete coverage; just some.